It's beautiful! Is it once blooming, or does it repeat? Lisa

I don't know, I forgot to ask, and mine is just blooming for the first time. I have always assumed once blooming, but that is not based on any knowledge :-(.

I just called the store: it is once blooming!

stunning plant

It's gorgeous! Hmmm...I'm sure someone knows what it could be with those buds, not me however. Research time.

These are the completely closed buds a week or two ago on my little bush.

I don't know what it is, but color me envious.

The texture of the leaf and the shape of the stipule make me think of Hybrid Chinas. But those buds are somethin' else.

I'd be really surprised if it were remontant. But for your climate, that makes perfect sense.

It's a treasure!

The closest match with something I know is R. virginiana plena, or something else with American species in it. I will have to compare these pics with my plant tomorrow. It would be helpful to see more stems showing thorns.

Wow, Belmont, that is either spot on or very close I would say. I was ready to take a few better pictures with my good camera, instead of the phone, but the battery needs recharching. I will post them ASAP.

I looked at my plant today and I do think it's a good match. Hang on to that one. It's pretty rare. I think mine came from a plant that was found in New England.

PS: HMF lists Rose D'amour and R. virginiana plena as synonyms but I grow two distinct roses by those names. So that listing shows some images that might not match your rose. Graham Thomas is quoted in the HMF listing on these and similar roses.

I also suspect virginiana plena.

Thank you, Belmont and Trospero for identifying my rose. I had been looking at the old European roses, but nothing really fit. I will take good care of it. It is still in a pot, but it has put down roots through the holes in the bottom into the soil under it, I noticed some time ago. Maybe I should wait till early spring next year with moving it? If it is unusual, once it is established I could give offshoots to others and spread it around a bit, with the story and name. And I will let the owner of the original plant know.

I don't think it is necessary for identification, but I will add the pictures I took, just to have a more complete photographic description.

I just remember I have an old rose book by G.S. Thomas. I will see if it has a description of this rose.

Not sure, but I found 2 Alpenfee in Canada this spring.......I will take more pics tomorrow, they have more blooms now.

What about an id of old pink moss? There are lots of plants in this area (central Michigan) of a rose similar to yours. Suckers profusely, lots of moss on buds, fragrant once bloomer.

Ratdogheads, I remember your rose and I thought this rose must be a lot like yours. I finally got my own R. virginiana plena but I would not mind getting some of yours to compare. I can't message you for some reason but if you message me we can arrange an exchange.

I'm not sure if anyone knows how these roses came about. American species seem to have been in France in the early 19th century but whether the hybrids were naturally occurring or human-made is not documented, as far as I know. The history of Banshee, another possible American rose hybrid, is also a big question mark:

http://www.paulbardenroses.com/main_dec.html

rosemi, the buds almost do look mossy, don't they? R. virginiana is a hardy native rose with very glandular buds as can be seen in the photo I linked to. It does make me think of what writers said of the remontant mosses when they were introduced... that they were only worth having because they rebloomed, but that they weren't as well-mossed as the once-blooming sorts.

Another clue for R. virginiana and her fuller flowered offspring 'Rose d'Amour' is the fairly glossy foliage. And I look for what I call "bunny ears" (narrow leafy sepals) on the buds.

I would love to grow Rose d'Amour, but am not sure if it would like our climate.

Virginia

Summersrhythm, I love the fat buds on your Alpenfee! For the rest it differs too much from what I see here for it to be the same rose. Whereabouts did you find it?

Rosesmi, do you have any pictures of the ones you find? I wonder if they are the same rose.

Ratsdoghead, your "Baboosic Rose" is gorgeous. If not a twin brother to mine, then at least they are kissing cousins ;-). I wish I could give it so much room. I did not notice fall foliage before, but I might have a surprise like you had later in the year.

I have Graham Thomas's book The Old Shrub Roses. He does not really deal with R. virginiana plena, but on the second last page he says: "I might go on selecting other individuals in the great wealth of strange roses, such as Rosa virginiana plena, an exquisite flower known as 'St. Mark's Rose' or Rosa rapa", and to top it off, when discussing the alba rose 'Celeste', he says: "Apart from Rosa virginiana plena and ... I know of no rose of such exquisite charm when unfurling its petals". So, R.v.p. growers, our roses can hold their flower heads high! ;-)

I found Alpenfee at Palatine this spring.

Ah, I thought you meant you had found it growing 'wild' somewhere ;-).

I should have a look there some time. I have never been there. For special roses I tend to visit Hortico. That is much closer to me.

Ratdogheads, I had a fall surprise too:

That was on November 2. Today:

Strong autumn color is another foliage character pointing to it being derived from one of the eastern North American species with glossy leaves such as R. virginiana.

That's exciting, and very interesting! And what gorgeous color, look at the deep reds. red. Mine are all but bare right now but I got a good showing of fall color.

Yes, I am really impressed with this rose. Wish I could see how all those bushes beside the little church/antique store looked in the fall. Must have been quite a sight. Yours is in some shade?